Those of us who garden hate slugs, ants, beetles, and other garden variety pests but don't want to pour toxic chemicals on our soil can make homemade versions of organic pesticides that are just as effective and much cheaper than the commercial alternatives using biodegradable soap and common household items such as cooking oil, baking soda, garlic, and chili powder.

Household weblog Apartment Therapy recommends first making a base soap spray insecticide by mixing 1.5 tablespoons of liquid biodegradable soap with a quart of water and a few drops of orange or lemon essential oil. Pour this mix into a spray bottle and feel free to coat your plants thoroughly with it' it's perfectly safe for plants but will attack the carapace of most insects and not allowing them to breathe.

Other variations at the source link below include garlic chili spray to repel Japanese beetles, grasshoppers, and slugs as well as baking soda spray to treat plants with fungal diseases.

Keep in mind that these sprays will also kill beneficial insects such as ladybugs. Even though they're safe for your plants you may want to see if your garden already has predator insects before using these diy solutions.